What is Service Learning and How can I do it?

The idea of service learning has been evolving within educational circles as teachers and administrators look to expand the world view of youth. But what is service learning and how is it different than traditional community service?

Service learning according to the National Service Learning Clearing house is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen community. Service learning combines community service with the classroom curriculum to give students the opportunity to experience classroom concepts in real life situations while broadening their world view.

Service learning can be created for all subjects matter and all ages. To successfully develop and implement a service learning program or individual project, it is important to remember the below criteria for service learning.

Includes investigative process to identify meaningful service opportunity

Provides intentional connections to academic learning

Incorporate reflection throughout

Involves Young people in the planning process to encourage “youth voice”

Students should be involved in the process of researching and planning the community service portion of the project. It is important that students are given the opportunity to take some ownership in the projects that the class decides to incorporate. This could mean allowing older students to talk with organization program managers to talk about the needs and details of the organization.Younger students could help research and choose produce to plant in the class garden.

Here are some service learning projects, that you can adjust to fit your classroom goals or be used to inspire you to create your own service learning projects.